Archive for the ‘USPS’ tag

Recognizing that hot rods have long been an iconic representation of American culture, freedom and ingenuity, the United States Post Office has unveiled a pair of new “Forever” stamps, each honoring the iconic and easily modified 1932 Ford roadster. Called Hot Rods Forever, the stamps are now available online or at a local United States Post Office.

The unveiling of the stamps took place last weekend at the National Street Rod Association’s (NSRA) Street Rod National East Plus in York, Pennsylvania. One stamp depicts a rear three-quarters shot of a black “Deuce” roadster, trimmed with orange flames, while the second stamp shows a low frontal view of a red Deuce roadster. Speaking to the appeal of both hot rods and the Postal Service’s “Forever” stamps, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe was quick to point out, “Just like the cars they celebrate, these stamps are timeless in that they’re good for mailing First Class letters anytime in the future.”

The Hot Rods Forever stamps join the ranks of other car-themed postage, which includes a series of Muscle Cars Forever stamps, specifically the 1966 Pontiac GTO, the 1967 Shelby G.T. 500, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, and the 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda. Earlier America on the Move stamps, designed by graphic artist Art Fitzpatrick, paid tribute to both ’50s Sports Cars (including the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, the 1954 Kaiser Darrin, the 1952 Nash-Healey, the 1953 Studebaker Starliner, and the 1955 Ford Thunderbird) and ’50s Fins and Chrome (including the 1957 Chrysler 300C, the 1957 Lincoln Premier, the 1957 Pontiac Safari, the 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk and the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado).

The Hot Rods Forever stamps were designed by Derry Noyes and digitally rendered by graphic artist John Mattos. The stamps will be available in sheets, or in a series of products ranging from digital color postmark sets through framed artwork, aimed at those who collect stamps along with grease beneath their fingernails and scars on their knuckles. For additional information on the Hot Rods Forever stamp offerings, visit About.USPS.com.

One of the most cherished automotive events next year of any kind will be the centennial of the first Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day. Among a slew of commemorative events in the pipeline for that landmark anniversary is the creation of a U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring the first 500 in 1911, unveiled this week and set to go on sale in May 2011.

It’s a USPS “forever” stamp, with its imagery of Ray Harroun’s winning Marmon Wasp of 1911 created in Art Deco fashion by John Mattos. The 2011 issue will mark the second time that the Wasp has a appeared on a U.S. stamp, the first being as a 17.5-cent postal commemorative that was part of a series on transportation. To provide some context, that was in 1987.

UPDATE (7.March 2011): The USPS was kind enough to send the below image of the stamp. According to the USPS, the stamp will be dedicated in Indianapolis on May 20.